Hours:
Monday–Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm
About Us
Our Story
Tom built this firm based on his commitment to leaving a heritage for his own family, being a good steward of all that was entrusted to him.
While preserving financial resources was important, he also wanted to leave a record of all the things that he built his life on—his values, his faith and his personality.
A historian at heart (with an undergraduate History degree to prove it), Tom believes that we need to understand where we come from to guide us in the future.
Ready to preserve your legacy?
Tom Culpepper
Managing Attorney
After spending the first half of his adult career working with a non-profit ministry, Tom went to the University of Dayton School of Law for a mid-career change. His values didn’t change, he simply wanted to apply his skills to a new arena.
Tom spent 5 years as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney handling juvenile crimes, obtaining child support for minors, or protecting children from abusive and neglectful parents. Tom founded Culpepper Law LLC in 2011 and focused increasingly, and now entirely, on comprehensive estate planning.
When not practicing law, Tom spends time with his most valuable assets—wife Wendi, and their three children. A former college baseball player, he has recently begun to learn golf and has found that the swings are nothing alike. He is an avid reader who admits he will never finish his book list because he is continually adding to it.
Patricia Niswonger
Ohio State Bar Association Certified Paralegal
Patty joined the team in 2020, but she is not new to estate planning. Originally from the Centerville area, Patty has worked for some of the strongest estate planning firms in the Dayton area over the last 15 years, and we are thrilled that she has joined our team! She is a paralegal member of the Ohio State Bar Association.
Our clients will recognize not only her legal expertise, but also the excellence with which she applies herself. Patty drafts estate planning documents and assists clients with the transfer of assets. Patty takes great pleasure in helping clients plan for their families and future. We are excited for you to meet her, and know that she will quickly earn your trust. She has been married to Mike for 25 years, loves music and cooking and is deeply devoted to her 4 legged loves.
Erica Hayes
Client Services Director
Erica is the bright voice you'll hear when you call to schedule an appointment. She came to us with 20+ years of administrative experience and has put it all to work for the office. She is married with 2 (nearly) grown children and is very involved in serving the community when she is not serving our clients.
Erica loves people and has made our office brighter from the first day she arrived. She works tirelessly for our clients and always with a smile on her face. In addition, she is a Notary Public and assists with the signing of many of our legal documents.
We look forward to you meeting her!
Holly Schultz
Elder Law Paralegal
Holly was added to the office in 2021, coming to us with 20 years of paralegal experience, half of it in the Elder law arena in the Dayton area.
She is a marathon-loving runner who brings her discipline and endurance to a process that can feel overwhelming to the clients she serves. Well known in the senior care community, Holly serves our clients who are facing the challenge of paying for the cost of long-term care while still preserving assets for their loved ones. It is a detailed, often tedious process that she applies herself to so that families don’t lose everything when someone needs nursing care.
Holly is married with 2 grown children and several dogs that keep her busy when she’s not running. We are thankful to have her on the team.